Kentucky Derby contender - Bench Points (VIDEO)

The undefeated Bench Points (ranked No. 23 on Horse Racing Nation’s 2011 Kentucky Derby Contenders list) worked for the first time on Friday morning since making his three-year-old debut a winning one in an allowance race at Santa Anita on February 11.

Trainer Tim Yakteen was pleased with the half mile work in 47.4 and confirmed the California-bred son of Benchmark is being pointed to the Grade II $250,000 San Felipe Stakes at a mile and a sixteenth on March 12.

This will mark the first try around two turns for Bench Points, who Yakteen also confirmed will be ridden again by Alonso Quinonez.

After Rafael Bejarano was aboard for the first three victories of his career, including a pair of stakes at Del Mar last summer, Quinonez took over for the first time in his aforementioned allowance victory.

My entire interview with Yakteen from Clocker’s Corner this morning can be seen below.

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